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Casting Tidbits: Bruce Willis, Idris Elba and Chelsea Handler

I've just decided to switch our Friday schedule to Monday, which means that the test we take each Friday on what we learned during the week will now take place on Monday before we've learned it. But since today is Tuesday, it doesn't matter in the slightest. Pencils ready! First up, Deadline reports Bruce Willis has signed on to star in a mysterious drama called Ten. Literally no details have been revealed about the story, but Patrick Allesandrin (District 13: Ultimatum) will direct from a script by Skip Woods (The A-Team, X-Men Origins: Wolverine). Hopefully we'll find out some details on the project sooner than later. More casting news below!

Second, after hearing about his picture deal with Marvel, Heat Vision reports actor Idris Elba is joining the cast of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the Neveldine and Taylor (Crank) written and directed sequel to the 2007 disappointment Ghost Rider. Johnny Whitworth (Gamer) is also joining the cast. Elba will play an alcoholic warrior monk tasked with finding Ghost Rider (Nicolas Cage) while Whitworth plays a criminal who is recruited by the devil to find the boy and is later turned into a demonic creature. With a story from David Goyer and the wild action stylings of Neveldine and Taylor, we may finally get a decent Ghost Rider flick after all.

Next, Deadline reports comedienne and talk show host Chelsea Handler has joined the cast of McG's action comedy This Means War. Tom Hardy and Chris Pine star in the story of two best friends and ex-spies who find themselves ruthlessly fighting over the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). Handler will play the best friend and confidante of the desired Witherspoon. This role along with her recently completed first foray into studio films with a supporting role in Russell Brand's comedy Hop means she's likely going to be showing up on the big screen more often.

Also, Variety reports Thomas Haden Church has joined the cast of We Bought a Zoo. Matt Damon is already set to star and Amy Adams is apparently considering a role in the adaptation of a memoir from Benjamin Mee about his own family who bought a rundown mansion in the English countryside which included the 30-acre Dartmoor Wildlife Park, home to over 200 animals. Cameron Crowe is directing the film, but Church's role in the project has not yet been revealed.

In addition, Variety reports Ray Liotta, Ving Rhames and Christian Slater have signed on to star in an indie called The River Sorrow. The story, from director Rich Cowan and writer Steve Anderson, will follow a detective (Liotta) on the trail of a serial killer with Slater playing and FBI agent overseeing the case and Rhames playing Liotta's friend and captain. The film begins shooting next week in Washington

Finally, ComingSoon reports Melanie Griffith will join Bryan Cranston and Michael Cudlitz in The Grief Tourist, the story of a troubled soul who retraces the footsteps of serial killers who fascinate him as his hobby. His dark obsession with past killers soon becomes his reality and it leads us on a menacing and horrific journey inside his twisted mind. Siru Krishnamma (of A Man of No Importance) is directing from actor/writer Frank John Hughes' script. The film is already in production and shooting for release in 2011.

Well, that's all for this edition of Casting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for more casting updates on the way.